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Hello, neighbors! In this issue, get the scoop on an upcoming S. Columbia St. road closure, find out what deserving team received an award from the Central Pines Regional Council, and fill your calendar with festive Town events. |
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S. Columbia St. to Temporarily Close for Tunnel Work
S. Columbia St. will be closed between South Rd./McCauley St. and Cameron Ave. between 7 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 15 and 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19 for work on UNC's steam tunnel. If you travel through this area, plan for it to take extra time as you navigate the detour. On Dec. 16, one lane will reopen after the UNC basketball game to allow traffic to exit the area between 9:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
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Transit Holiday Service Changes
Transit will make changes to the U, NU, CCX, FCX, and JFX routes from Dec. 16 through Jan. 4 to account for the holidays and UNC's winter break. If you ride one of these routes, check the schedule online and use the Transit app to plan your trips. EZ-Rider customers may see reduced hours some days. Stay tuned for next week's Our Town for a list of all Town holiday service changes.
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CARE Team Receives Rooted in Results Award
The Central Pines Regional Council honored the Police Department's Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement (CARE) Team with the 2025 Rooted in Results Award. This award goes to an outstanding project that strengthens two or more communities. The CARE Team members are Jennifer Melvin (Peer Support Specialist), Heather Palmateer (Lead Crisis Counselor), Junika Jones (Social Worker), Carrboro Police Department, and Alia Martin (Crisis Response Community EMT, Orange County).
The CARE Team is a partnership between the Chapel Hill Police Department, Carrboro Police Department, and Orange County. Launched in May 2024, the CARE Team provides a therapeutic and holistic response to behavioral and mental health, substance use, intellectual development disability, and low-level criminal offense-related calls that are non-emergency and don't require a law enforcement response. Congrats, team!
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Register for Parks and Rec Winter Programs
Registration is now open for Parks and Recreation's winter programs. Sign up for everything from pottery classes and wheel throwing to archery and skateboarding.
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Swim or Climb with Santa
Saturday, December 13, is a big day for Santa lovers. You and the family will have two opportunities to meet him with our Parks and Rec crews:
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Gift Wrapping Party
Bring your holiday gifts and join us at the library on Wednesday, December 17th from 5 to 8 p.m. for a drop-in event with festive music, a free hot cocoa bar, and lots of recycled paper and natural materials to wrap gifts beautifully & sustainably. No gifts to wrap? Join us anyway. We'll show you how to make recycled paper bows and gift tags. You can also join us to make cards.
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Register for Bilingual Police Academy
The Chapel Hill Police Academy is a free opportunity for community members to engage in hands-on learning about day-to-day operations of the police department and provide feedback and ideas on community safety. The Academy runs Thursdays, Jan. 15-Feb. 19 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Nuestra Academia Comunitaria de Policía es un programa de 6 semanas que reúne a miembros de la comunidad, oficiales de policía y personal del departamento para participar en un aprendizaje activo y práctico sobre las operaciones diarias del departamento de policía. Se reuniran de 6PM a 8PM cada jueves desde el 15 de enero hasta el 19 de febrero.
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Free Residential House Checks
Are you traveling for the holiday and live in Town limits? You can request a house check from the Chapel Hill Police Department while you're away. They'll look for things like damage to property or windows and entries that don't look secure. They don't check on pets, house plants, or your dirty dishes.
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Donate to Food Drives, Get Rewarded
Chapel Hill Public Library and Parks and Recreation are both running food drives to support PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro. Here are the details, including what each department is offering in return for your donation:
- Please only donate non-expired food in non-glass containers.
- Most needed items are PB&J, low-sugar cereal, rice, canned tuna and chicken, pasta and pasta sauce, beans, canned fruit and vegetables, and canned soup.
Chapel Hill Public Library donation details:
- Drop off your donations in the collection box on the main level of the library between December 5 and December 31.
- The library's annual Book Bingo Winter Reading program starts December 10. Donating to the food drive earns you an extra ticket to their prize raffle.
Chapel Hill Parks & Recreation donation details:
- Their food drive will run from December 8 through December 14.
- Drop off food at the Clay Studio, Community Center, Hargraves Community Center, Homestead Aquatic Center, or the Teen Center.
- If you donate five food items during this time, you can get one free daily admission to lap swim, recreation swim, open climbing, open volleyball, open basketball, or open pickleball.
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Apply for Human Services Funding
We'll soon be accepting applications for Human Services funding for fiscal year 2026-2027. Starting December 12, applicants can complete and submit their applications and supporting documents. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, January 16, 2026.
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WCHL: Ongoing Recovery from Chantal
Listen in to the Dec. 8 episode of WCHL's "Forum on the Hill" to hear from local voices about the economic recovery from Chantal's floods. Economic Development Program Coordinator Sarah Potter joins the conversation.
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WCHL: Responding to Extreme Weather
Listen in to the Dec. 10 episode of WCHL's "Forum on the Hill" to hear from local voices about extreme weather and how we continue to respond to it. Community Sustainability Manager John Richardson joins the chat.
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Criminal Justice Debt Program Advisory Committee
Monday, Dec. 15 at 11 a.m., virtual |
Community Design Commission
Monday, Dec. 15 at 5:30 p.m. |
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New for Week of December 14
ROAD CLOSURE: S. Columbia St. UNC steam tunnel replacement
7 a.m. on Dec. 15 to 5 p.m. on Dec. 19
Road will be closed between South Rd./McCauley St. and Cameron Ave.
Follow the posted detour.
*On Dec. 16, one lane will reopen after the UNC basketball game to allow traffic to exit the area between 9:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
N. Columbia St., Franklin St. and W. Franklin St., and Graham St. utility work lane closure
Dec. 15 - 17, 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Flaggers will maintain traffic
E. Rosemary St. between Henderson St. and Spring Ln. tree work (road closure)
Dec. 16 - 18, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
The street will be closed so the Town arborist can remove two dangerous trees. Follow the posted detour.
214 W. Rosemary St. lane closure for hotel work
Dec. 17, 3 a.m. - 6 a.m.
Flaggers will maintain traffic.
Ongoing
Both sides of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. and S. Columbia St. from Market St. to Dixie Ln. lane and sidewalk closures
Dec. 4 - Jan. 31, 2026, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Parts of both sides of the corridor might have lane and sidewalk closures as part of soil boring for the NSBRT project.
Manning Dr. at Hospital Dr. and East Dr. sidewalk closure
Dec. 1, 2025 - Feb. 13, 2026, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
UNC Hospital contractor will waterproof the pedestrian bridge.
OWASA's W. Rosemary St. project is underway.
OWASA is replacing an aging water main along W. Rosemary St. This project will take about 18 months, and it’ll require significant road closures and detours.
Columbia St. from Medical Dr. to Sitterson Hall lane closure for UNC project
Nov. 11 - Dec. 14, 2025
Sidewalk on S. Elliott Rd. at Fordham Blvd.
Due to the current condition of the railing in this area, this sidewalk is closed.
207-209 Meadowmont Ln. sidewalk and bike lane closure
Present to March 2026
Drivers should remain alert to bicyclists merging into the main travel lane.
Columbia St. Carrington Hall work
Present to December 2026
A pedestrian detour is in place along S. Columbia St. near Medical Dr. as crews work on Carrington Hall.
TBD
Pope Rd. near Ephesus Church Rd. NCDOT culvert repair
Dates to be determined.
For more information, email Jcmanuel-nelson@ncdot.gov
All road work depends on the weather. Schedules may change accordingly. Google Maps and Waze show the most up-to-date conditions.
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